The tank icon nodded to Rybka. "And if everyone would send me their information, I have tacnet software online, including mapping software that should provide a tactical advantage when we encounter the convoy. Unlike my other drone, here, the aerial drones do not have the same stealth capabilities, so I would like to avoid launching them until we are on site. And you are undoubtedly more secure going into full VR within the van than without it. In addition to the armor, I've installed a rear-facing machine gun that should serve to discourage pursuit." The drone turns, and begins tottering back to the van, climbing up into it. "All right, everyone who is coming in my van, please get in. Those of you who have your own transportation, please point it out to me, so I can add them to my friend-or-foe files."
Tachikoma includes you all in a rating 2 centralized Tacnet. Each of you must contribute 4 sensor channels and slave your commlink to Tachikoma in order to take part. Possible sensor channels include:
Natural Senses: Visual, audio, or olfactory senses recorded via simrig each count as a sensor channel. Natural enhancements such as low-light and thermographic count as additional senses.
Cybernetic Senses: Any visual, audio, olfactory, or other sense acquired via cybereyes, cyberears, olfactory booster, orientation system, etc. Sensory enhancements such as low-light, thermorgraphic, smartlink, ultrasound, radar, spatial recognizers, and so on each count as a separate sensor channel.
Sensor Systems: Data acquired from worn, carried, or mounted sensor systems of various types (cameras, microphones, range finders, motion sensors, etc.) may also be contributed to the network as a sensor channel. Drones sensor systems also count; each drone can supply a number of sensor channels equal to its Sensor rating.
The tacnet gives a +2 bonus to those using AR and performing Close Combat, Dodge, Firearms, Infiltration, Maneuvering, Perception, Shadowing, and Surprise tests.
The Tactical Satellite Mapping software on one of the aerial drones provides a real-time map of the situation, based on information from the tacnet.